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2012 AT&T MLS ALL-STAR FACT SHEET

WHAT: Major League Soccer hosts its midseason showcase match between the League’s top players and some of the best of the world. This will be the ninth time that the MLS All-Star Game has followed this format -- the most intriguing All-Star spectacle in North American professional sports. Last year, the MLS All-Stars lost to Manchester United of the English Premier League at Red Bull Arena in front of a sellout crowd and a record number of television and online viewers. In addition to the MLS All-Star match on July 25, Major League Soccer will host various events during the week. The 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game will receive worldwide media coverage as journalists travel to the Philadelphia area for the event.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 25, 2012, 8:00 p.m. ET

TELEVISION: The 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star Game will be broadcast live on ESPN2, TeleFutura and in Canada on TSN and RDS. ESPN International will make the game available live in more than 100 countries. In addition, the All-Star Game will be carried online and on smartphones and tablets via ESPN3 and WatchESPN in the United States.

WHERE: The 2012 AT&T MLS All-Star game will be held at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. The soccer-specific, waterfront stadium opened in June, 2010 and has a stunning view of the Commodore Barry Bridge just 10 miles south of Philadelphia International Airport. The stadium seats 18,500 for Union games and features 29 luxury suites, a full service club restaurant, sideline roofs, and expansive promenade areas outside the stadium.

ALL-STARS: The All-Star First XI will be selected via fan voting after a media panel narrows the field of eligible players for the fan ballot. Two players will be selected by Commissioner Don Garber, and the remainder of the gameday roster will be selected by All-Star coach and Philadelphia Union Manager Peter Nowak. This is the second consecutive season that MLS has awarded the All-Star coaching honor based on competitive considerations of both the All-Star Game and the MLS Regular Season.

OPPONENT: In addition to honoring the best players in MLS, the All-Star game has also featured world-famous clubs such as Manchester United (2010 & 2011), Everton FC (2009), Chelsea FC (2006), and Chivas de Guadalajara (2003). In 2012, the MLS All-Stars will welcome back Chelsea FC. This year’s game will serve as a rematch of the 2006 event, when a sellout crowd at Chicago’s TOYOTA Park witnessed the MLS All-Star team – led by Nowak, then manager of D.C. United – defeat star-studded Chelsea FC 1-0 on a goal by Dwayne De Rosario. Chelsea FC boasts a lineup of international stars such as Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Michael Essien (Ghana), Frank Lampard (England), Fernando Torres (Spain), Petr Cech (Czech Republic), Florent Malouda (France), Juan Mata (Spain) and John Terry (England).Founded in 1905, Chelsea FC have won the Premier League title four times, the FA Cup six times, and the UEFA Europa League four times.

TICKETS: An exclusive VISA pre-sale will begin on Wednesday, April 25th at 10 a.m. ET via PhiladelphiaUnion.com. Philadelphia full season ticket holders will have priority access to before they go on sale to the general public. Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Wednesday, May 9th 10 a.m. local on PhiladelphiaUnion.com, at the box office, or by calling New Era Tickets at 1-800-298-4200.

HISTORY: The MLS All-Stars have faced an international club eight times, posting a 5-2-1 record: